2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS3097 Global Perspectives on Work

20 creditsClass Size: 72

Module manager: Kate Hardy
Email: k.r.hardy@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module explores the changing world of work, encompassing informal, underpaid, and unpaid work, from global perspectives. Engaging with theories of globalisation and varieties of capitalism, it considers how the interplay of transnational enterprises (e.g. multinational corporations), international agencies (e.g. the World Bank), and socio-cultural contexts shape the world of work. Delivered through a series of workshops, complemented by digitally enhanced learning resources, the module uses this theoretical grounding to understand and debate contemporary and emerging issues, such as, precarious labour, migration, valuing unpaid work, decent work, sustainability, and digitalisation and automation. In these discussions, it will consider the challenges of developing global policies for regulating and managing work. Throughout, the module draws upon decolonial approaches to understand the geopolitical configuration of developed and developing/emerging economies that influence the meaning, value, and practices of work in various regions of the world.

Objectives

This module aims to (a) develop a decolonial framework of global perspectives with reference to globalisation and varieties of capitalism, and using this framework (b) understand the variations in the meaning, value, and practices of work around the world; and (c) critically assess contemporary issues and debates in the world of work.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this module, students will be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of key concepts, issues, and debates related to work from decolonial global perspectives.
- critically assess the contextual factors and the role of transnational enterprises and international agencies in shaping developments in the world of work.
- illustrate policy challenges for regulating work around the world.

Skills outcomes
Upon completion of this module students will acquire the following skills.

Transferable:
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
- Work effectively both independently and in teams.

Subject Specific:
- Articulate the complexities of work from global perspectives;
- Evaluate contemporary and emerging challenges in the world of work.

Syllabus

This module will discuss the varied meanings and values of work, delving into how these inform the practices and organisation of work around the world. In addition to socio-cultural factors, it will pay attention to the influence of transnational enterprises and international agencies in shaping contemporary work. It will incorporate engagement with emerging debates in the field, such as, migration and labour, valuing unpaid and underpaid work, and digitalisation and automation.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	10	2.00	20.00
Private study hours			180.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Students will undertake independent learning to prepare for the workshops, using the digitally enhanced learning resources that have been produced specifically for this module. These resources will be made available on Minerva before each workshop and students will be provided guidance on how long they should spend preparing for the workshops. The remaining private study time will be spent preparing for the assessment.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

In the workshops, students will be given feedback on their participation in group discussions and offered guidance for the group presentations assessment. Further, the module structure will include time during workshops to discuss and receive feedback on the outline/plans for their written report’s assessment.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Presentation	Group presentation 10-15 minutes	30.00
Report	2,000 word individual	70.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The resit for this module will be 100% by 2,000 words report.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 02/09/2024

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